14-year-olds suspected of armed robbery

Two 14-year-olds are in police custody after allegedly committing armed robbery on a Red Line train Oct. 23 at around 12:45 in the afternoon. The incident took place near the Harrison CTA stop, by Harrison and State streets.

The victim gave police the physical description of two offenders, and officers then stopped the southbound train at 138 W. Cermak Rd. Police entered the train and discovered someone that matched the description provided. In interviewing the subject, police found a protective phone case that the victim had identified as belonging to her.

She then told police that they had the wrong person and that, “My guy was the one who did it.” She then gave a description of the second offender. Police re-entered the train and found a boy who fit this description, and discovered that he had a black BB gun. Police then placed him into custody.

More CTA armed robberies

A male offender robbed two women on the platform of the Harrison CTA stop, 608 S. State St., Oct. 22 at around 5:30 in the afternoon.

The offender approached the women and quietly told them to give up their phones or he would shoot them. At this time, the victims saw a blue steel semi-automatic pistol held in the offender’s hand close to his stomach. The victims gave the offender their phones and the offender fled southbound on the Red Line. The cell phones were both iPhones and had an estimated value of $400 each.

In a separate incident, police suspect Keswan Hawskin, 19, of Chicago, of aggravated assault after he allegedly pulled a knife on a woman on a CTA train traveling near 19 N. Dearborn St. The incident occurred Oct. 24 at around two in the morning.

Hawskin was apparently moving from seat to seat on the southbound train and trying to take a cell phone from another rider. Hawskin came over to the victim, pulled out a knife, and sat down beside her. Fearing for her safety, the victim ran off the train and told the CTA officials of the incident. Police were contacted and able to apprehend Hawskin.

Occupy Chicago arrests

For the second Saturday night in a row, police arrested protestors for violating a Chicago Park District ordinance that Grant Park closes at 11 p.m. Police placed into custody 130 people Oct. 22 (the report notes that of those arrested 87 were males and 43 were females) for failing to heed several warnings to leave the area.

At around 3:30 in the morning, about 30 demonstrators returned to the park, but left after several warnings. One demonstrator, though, refused to leave and was placed into custody. The suspect didn’t give police his name and had no identification.

Fraud at Target

Police suspect an employee of the Target at 1154 S. Clark St. — Amy Walker, 24, of Chicago — of corroborating with her brother and another suspect to produce fraudulent Target credit cards that used the identities of patients at Illinois Masonic Hospital. The brother is Antoine Blakes, 27, of Chicago, and the additional suspect is Earnette Macklin, 34, of Chicago. Walker allegedly opened a fraudulent account for Blakes on Oct. 20; she allegedly opened one for Macklin Oct. 21.

A Target security manager contacted police Oct. 21 and police learned that Blakes entered the discount store and gave the cashier — his sister, Walker — a document that contained the personal information of a patient at the Illinois Masonic Hospital. Walker then used that information to open a Target credit card in the name of the victim with an original purchase in the amount of $34.58. Blakes then used the card to purchase gift cards in the amount of $500 and $450.

Macklin, meanwhile, came in the next day and allegedly supplied Walker with the personal information of a separate Illinois Masonic Hospital patient. Macklin then used the Target credit card to also purchase gift cards at Target. The police report notes that Macklin may be affiliated with a gang called the Boys Town Gangsters.

This summary contains information taken from the crime reports and arrest records of the 1st District of the Chicago Police Department. Anyone named has only been charged with a crime. The cases have not yet been adjudicated